Element for bridging the juncture between adjacent structural components

ABSTRACT

A U-shaped member has a bight portion and two wall portions which extend to one side of the bight portion normal thereto. The outer side of the bight portion is formed with two open channels extending along the juncture with the respective arm portion. Two sealing strips of elastomeric material are provided, each overlying the outer side of one of the arm portions and connected to the free edge of the same, with each sealing strip extending around the juncture of the arm portion with the bight portion having a tubular bead received in part in the associated channel. Sealing lips are provided on and extend outwardly from the free edges of the sealing strips in the region of the free edges of the arm portions.

United States Patent [191 Epperlein et a1.

[ ELEMENT FOR BRIDGING THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN ADJACENT STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS [75] Inventors: Helmut Epperlein, Dietersweiler;

Edgar Hiischeler, Freudenstadt, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Christian Ho1zapfeIK.G.,

Horb/Neckar, Germany [22] Filed: May 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 252,675

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [58] Field of Search..... 52/122, 126, 241, 242, 403; 49/486, 487, 48 8, 489

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,279 12/1941 Kuenzli 49/487 [451 Jan. 29, 1974 11/1939 Temstrom 6/1967 Eatough ABSTRACT A U-shaped member has a bight portion and two wall portions which extend to one side of the bight portion normal thereto. The outer side of the bight portion is formed with two open channels extending along the juncture with the respective arm portion. Two sealing strips of elastomeric material are provided, each overlying the outer side of one of the arm portions and connected to the free edge of the same, with each sealing strip extending around the juncture of the arm portion with the bight portion having a tubular bead received in part in the associated channel. Sealing lips are provided on and extend outwardly from the free edges of the sealing strips in the region of the free edges of the arm portions.

10 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 2 9 I974 SHEET 1 BF 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a novel article of manufacture, and more particularly to an element for bridging the juncture between adjacent structural elements.

Such elements are for instance used for bridging the juncture between a floor, a ceiling and a wall and a movable divider, such as a divider wall which is assembled of furniture elements. It is also used for bridging the juncture between two elements of such a wall, and for other purposes and installations.

The proposals known for this purpose from the prior art are in varying degrees structurally not adequate and aesthetically not pleasing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide such an element which is an improvement over what is known from the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved element for bridging the juncture between adjacent structural components which is both structurally satisfactory and aesthetically pleasing.

An additional object of the invention is to provide such an element which serves not only bridging purposes but which also provides a sealing capacity.

In pursuance of these objects and of others which will become apparent hereafter, including simplicity of construction and ease of use, one feature of the invention resides in an article of manufacture, namely an element for bridging the juncture between adjacent structural components, which briefly stated comprises a profiled member having at least two elongated mutually inclined portions connected along respective first margins and each having a free second margin. At least one sealing strip is provided, overlying an outwardly directed side of the elongated portions and'having one longitudinally extending edge region connected with the second margin of the one elongated portion, and another longitudinally extending edge region overlying the one margin of the other elongated portion at an outwardly directed side of the latter.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing firstly FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that the element has a profiled member 10 which in the illustrated embodiment is of U-shaped cross-section. However, the cross-section could be different, for instance it could be L-shaped.

In the illustrated embodiment the member 10 has a bight portion 11 the outwardly directed side of which is provided with two' longitudinally extending open channels 1 l, whichin this case are formed by deforming the material of the bight portion so that on the inner side thereof corresponding longitudinally extending ridges are developed. Along the opposite lateral margins of the bight portion 11 the same is unitary with arms 12 and 13 which extend to one side of the bight portion, normal or near normal thereto. The arm portions 12 and 13 have respective free edges remote from the bight portion 1 l and outwardly offset at 12 and 13 as shown in the drawing.

The outer sides of the arm portions l2 -and 13 are covered by elastically deformable sealing strips 14 and 15, for instance of a suitable natural or synthetic elastomer, and these sealing strips 14 and 15 are connected with the arm portions 12 and 13 by having longitudinally extending folds or recesses 14' and 15 in which the offset portions 12' and 13, respectively are received as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, the sealing strips 14 and 15 each have a sealing lip 14" and 15"which extends in direction outwardly away from the outer sides of the respective arm portions 12 and 13, again as illustrated.

As already pointed out, the sealing strips overlie the outer sides of the arm portions 12 and 13, extending longitudinally of the latter as shown. In addition, the sealing strips are folded about the juncture between the respective arm portions and the bight portion 11, having at their edges remote from the lips 14' and 15', respectively, the illustrated tubular beads -16 which are elastically deformable. These beads 16 are received in the .open channels 11 as shown and it will be appreciated that they need not be tubular but could also be of solid cross-section, or could for instance be tubular and filled with resiliently compressible material, such as synthetic plastic foam or the like.

FIG. 2 shows how the element according to the presentinvention is to be utilized. If it is used, as shown by way of example in FIG. 2, to bridge the juncture between a floor 18 and one or a pair (the latter possibility is shown in FIG. 2) of wall panels or other structural members I9 and 20, then these wall panels contact the outer sides of the sealing lips 14" and I5", slightly deforming them and thus establishing with them a seal. The bight portion 11 is in contact with the floor 18, being connected therewith by means which are suitable for the purpose for instance the illustrated screw 17 of which there will of course be several provided, spaced over the length of the member 10, although only a single one is shown by way of example. Thus connected with the floor 18, the member 10 is firmly held in position, and the tubular beads 16 are compressed between the floor l8 and the channels 11, thus establishing two seals. The members 19 and 20 are of course held in position in suitable manner which does not form a part of the present invention.

The drawing also shows in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the inner sides of the sealing strips 14 and may be provided with one or more projections or longitudinally extending beads 21 which prevent surface-to-surface contact with the outer sides of the arm portions 12 and 13, leaving a narrow gap G (see FIG. 1) which may be employed to accommodate foamable foils known per se and commercially available as fire-retardant material, to serve as a safety measure in the event of fire. The width of the gap G may be on the order of about 1 mm. It will be understood that the beads or projections 21 could also be provided on the outer sides of the arm portions 12 and 13, if desired, or that indeed some of them could be provided on the arm portions 12 and 13 and others on the strips 14 and 15.

Needless to say, the identification of the floor 18 in FIG. 2 is only by way of example, because evidently the bight portion 11 could similarly be placed against and secured to a ceiling, a wall or the like. Similarly, the elements 19 and 20 need not be panels or plates but could be portions of pieces of furniture which are assembled to form a divider or for other purposes. In fact, it is possible for both the elements 19 and 20 and the element contacting the outer side of the bight portion 11 to be pieces of furniture.

In FIG. 3 we have illustrated the use of the construction of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a divider wall, connected with a floor 23 and a ceiling 24 of a room. Such a wall is intended to be removable if and when desired and is therefore identified as a divider wall to distinguish it from a permanent wall although a permanent wall could of course also be established with the use of the construction according to the present invention.

In FIG. 3 two of the elements of FIGS. 1 and 2 are utilized, being identified with reference numerals 25 and 26, respectively, with the element 25 being connected with the floor 23 and the element 26 with the ceiling 24. The connection may be affected in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 2, but FIG. 3 shows that it can also be affected by means of threaded spindles 27 and 28 which are connected with the divider wall and which are threadedly made to bear against the inner side of the bight portions of the elements 25 and 26 to thereby press the same releasably against the wall and ceiling 23 and 24, respectively. In such a case, there would only be frictional retention.

The sealing and connecting effect is the same as in FlG. 2.

The sealing strips may, as pointed out before, be of natural or synthetic plastic material, and advantageously they are made of polyvinylchloride. Their pur pose is three-fold in FIG. 3, namely on the one hand they provide a seal with respect to the ceiling and floor, on the other hand they provide a seal with respect to the interval 29 between the elements 25 and 26, and the exterior of the plates or panels 30 of the divider wall, and thirdly they cover those parts of the arm portions which otherwise would be visible to a viewer.

Because of the direct contact of the bight portion against the wall and ceiling in the region where pres sure is exerted upon it via the spindles 27 and 28, it is not necessary to provide any load distributing means at all.

Due to the fact that the tubular beads are present, there is sufficient ability to yield by the elements 25 and 26 to permit the insertion (after installation of the wall, if desired) of a baseboard-like profile 31 which can be pushedinto place as shown between the element25 and the floor 23 and which conceals the juncture between the element 25 and the lower edge of the elements 30, that is the gap existing between this lower edge and the floor 23. This makes for an aesthetically more pleasing appearance.

Members 32, fitted into lateral openings of the U- shaped elements 25 and 26, serve primarily to longitudinally align longitudinally consecutive ones of the elements 25 or 26.

Among the various other advantages of the construction according to the present invention is the fact that the presence of the sealing strips 14 and 15, which can be given any desired surface texture and/or color eliminates the need for providing separate covers at the juncture between structural elements which they connect, and also the necessity for painting at this juncture.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an element for bridging a juncture between adjacent structural components, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, an element for bridging the juncture between adjacent structural components, comprising a profiled member of U-shaped cross-section having a bight portion which includes opposite longitudinally extending margins, and a pair of arm portions extending from the respective margins to one side of said bight portion and having respective longitudinally extending free edges; and a pair of sealing strips each provided on an outer side of one of said arm portions overlying and extending longitudinally of the same, said sealing strips each'having one longitudinal edge region overlying the respectively adjacent margin at the other side of said bight portion, and an other longitudinal edge region connected with the free edge of the associated armportion.

2. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1; each of said other longitudinal edge regions including connecting means for connecting it with the free edge of the associated arm portion.

3. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, said other side of said bight portion having at least two open channels each extending along one of said margins, and said one longitudinal edge region of each sealing strip including a longitudinally extending thickened section partly accommodated in one of said channels.

4. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 3, wherein said thickened sections are deformable tubular beads.

5. An article of manufacture as defined in claim.1, said other longitudinal edge region of each sealing strip having a side facing towards the respectively other one of said arm portions and being provided with a recess which is open in direction towards said bight portion, and said free edge of the respectively associated arm portion being received in said recess.

6. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 5, said arm portions each having a general plane, and said free edges each being offset from said general plane in direction outwardly of said profiled member.

7. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, each of said sealing strips being provided with an outwardly projecting deflectable sealing lip extending along the respective other longitudinal edge region.

8. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, said sealing strips being of elastomeric material.

9. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1,

each of said sealing strips having an inner side directed towards said profiled member; and further comprising distancing means for preventing surface-to-surface contact between said arm portions and the respective inner sides.

10. As an article of manufacture, an element for bridging the juncture between adjacent structural components, comprising a profiled member of U-shaped cross section having a bight portion which includes opposite longitudinally extending margins, and a pair of arm portions extending from the respective margins to one side of said bight portion and having'respective longitudinally extending free edges; and a sealing strip provided on an outer side of at least one of said arm portions overlying and extending longitudinally of the same, said sealing strip having one longitudinal edge region overlying the adjacent margin at the other side of said bight portion, and another longitudinal edge region connected with the free edge of said one arm portion. 

1. As an article of manufacture, an element for bridging the juncture between adjacent structural components, comprising a profiled member of U-shaped cross-section having a bight portion which includes opposite longitudinally extending margins, and a pair of arm portions extending from the respective margins to one side of said bight portion and having respective longitudinally extending free edges; and a pair of sealing strips each provided on an outer side of one of said arm portions overlying and extending longitudinally of the same, said sealing strips each having one longitudinal edge region overlying the respectively adjacent margin at the other side of said bight portion, and an other longitudinal edge region connected with the free edge of the associated arm portion.
 2. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1; each of said other longitudinal edge regions including connecting means for connecting it with the free edge of the associated arm portion.
 3. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, said other side of said bight portion having at least two open channels each extending along one of said margins, and said one longitudinal edge region of each sealing strip including a longitudinally extending thickened section partly accommodated in one of said channels.
 4. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 3, wherein said thickened sections are deformable tubular beads.
 5. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, said other longitudinal edge region of each sealing strip having a side facing towards the respectively other one of said arm portions and being provided with a recess which is open in direction towards said bight portion, and said free edge of the respectively associated arm portion being received in said recess.
 6. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 5, said arm portions each having a general plane, and said free edges each being offset from said general plane in direction outwardly of said profiled member.
 7. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, each of said sealing strips being provided with an outwardly projecting deflectable sealing lip extending along the respective other longitudinal edge region.
 8. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, said sealing strips being of elastomeric material.
 9. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, each of said sealing strips having an inner side directed towards said profiled member; and further comprising distancing means for preventing surface-to-surface contact between said arm portions and the respective inner sides.
 10. As an article of manufacture, an element for bridging the juncture between adjacent structural components, comprising a profiled member of U-shaped cross section having a bight portion which includes opposite longitudinally extending margins, and a pair of arm porTions extending from the respective margins to one side of said bight portion and having respective longitudinally extending free edges; and a sealing strip provided on an outer side of at least one of said arm portions overlying and extending longitudinally of the same, said sealing strip having one longitudinal edge region overlying the adjacent margin at the other side of said bight portion, and another longitudinal edge region connected with the free edge of said one arm portion. 